Over the last few years the housing market has been at an all-time low. No-one could afford to buy at normal prices, and no-one wanted to sell their property for unrealistically low prices so everything came to a halt. Gradually the market has begun to improve and sales of properties are rising once again. However this time, there is one distinct difference. With the economy having been at such a low point, sellers are now questioning the need for an estate agent to handle the sale of their property. And when you consider that approximately 1.8% of the property sale price goes directly to the agent, it is easy to see why. People object to paying disproportionately high fees simply for valuation, photographs, listings online and in branch and a sale board. If you are one of those people, then read on for some top tips about selling your own home without an estate agent.
First of all, make your home saleable. Clear rooms, remove any clutter and ensure surfaces are as clear and clean as possible. Viewers do not wish to see evidence of your daily life in the property because they will be trying to imagine their own. So ensure that every room is as impersonal as it can be for viewings. You also do not need to paint every room magnolia, as some articles would have you believe. Viewers are far more susceptible to the idea of a lifestyle, or aspirational theme. This is the marketing technique employed for showhomes.
Set yourself a price, and make it realistic. Do your research thoroughly. Look at comparable properties in your area and make a note of the price they sold for. Be careful when looking at prices – it is very important that you identify the SOLD FOR price, rather than being drawn in by higher priced properties that languish on the market. Working without an estate agent can be a bonus when setting your own price, as some agents can try and influence your decision about which agency to go with by giving you an artificially inflated price which is unlikely to do you any favours.
Then provide a great description of your property. Beware however of writing long narratives; viewers don’t want you to write about your property, they want you to show them what it’s like. This means that floor plans and internal photos are a high priority. Tailor your photos to the type of property. If it is a country cottage then make sure you include shots of any land with it and the available gardens. If it is a town-based property then concentrate on the inside, and particularly kitchens and bathrooms as these are the rooms which traditionally sell houses.
When you come to advertising your property, this is one area where it pays to use an online agent to do it for you. There are plenty of websites for selling homes. But sadly these websites do not allow private sellers to advertise on them; it must be an agent. And the internet is all very well, but don’t forget the more traditional advertising methods. An advert in the local paper can be just as effective as one online.
And finally, once you have accepted an offer for your home, don’t forget that you will need to engage a solicitor to handle the legal side of things. Your solo part of the journey is complete!
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